AONA Preceptorships
One of the most popular and well-utilized programs available through AO North America is the Visiting Professor Preceptorship program. More than thirty AO visiting professorships were supported by AO North America in 2000, allowing that number of North American hospitals to "Invite an AO expert" to visit, lecture, participate in Grand Rounds, and interact with Residents and staff. AO Visiting Professors from Europe and Latin America, as well as the United States, participated in this program. Guidelines and applications for available preceptorships may be found in your AO North America User's Manual, on the AONA web site, or by contacting the AO North America office. These programs are summarized below:
This program, which has been very popular since its inception, provides the financial capability for a hospital to invite one of the senior AO Faculty members (orthopaedic trauma/spine/maxillofacial or veterinary) as a Visiting Professor. The format for the Visiting Professorship can be any length of time, using any format of training, such as lectures, workshops, x-ray conferences, or a combination of these. Foreign AO faculty may also be invited. Once approved, AO North America will reimburse the Visiting Professor for travel and hotel expenses, as well as an honorarium of $500.
This preceptorship is intended to provide a senior-level Resident with an in-depth period of training in the basic management of fractures, at a recognized AO North America center, or with a surgeon member of AO North America. This will provide the resident with a one-on-one relationship with a practicing AO traumatologist, so that the individual will gain a deeper insight into the management of fractures. This preceptorship is not meant to replace a Trauma fellowship, but rather to provide the individual with a more in-depth study so that he/she may better practice care. Available to PGY-4 or -5 residents; each preceptorship will be funded up to $3,000 to support this training experience.
This preceptorship was created for the practicing physician to improve or refine his/her skills at an AO Center, under the guidance of an AONA member. This preceptorship should involve a minimum of four weeks training in an AO Center, with funding of up to $5,000 available to support living expenses, etc. for each preceptorship.
Realizing how difficult it can be for surgical residents to gain approval and funding for small research projects, AO North America provides a Resident Research Project Support program. This program will fund (up to $5,000) worthwhile research projects initiated by residents in the orthopaedic, maxillofacial, spine and veterinary specialties. Guidelines and application forms for this program are available through the AO North America office.